What Were the Last Words of the First Human in Space?

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (1934 – 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human to journey into outer space when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961.

(AFP) Russia releases Gagarin’s secret last words

Gagarin is best remembered by a generation of Russian for pronouncing “Poyekhali!” as his Vostok spacecraft lifted off the ground. The phrase can be translated as either “Let’s Go!” or “We’re Off!” and is now a regular part of the Russian lexicon.

But the Russian Internet was abuzz with what Gagarin said moments before his famous catchphrase. One of Korolyov’s biggest worries appeared to be that the would-be hero had enough to eat once he touched down on Earth.

“There in the flap you have dinner, supper and breakfast,” the father of the Soviet rocket programme told Gagarin by radio as the clock ticked down.

“Got it,” Gagarin replied in comments originally posted on the lifenews.ru website.

“You’ve got sausage, candy and jam to go with the tea,” Korolyov went on. “Sixty-three pieces — you’ll get fat! When you get back today, eat everything right away.”

Gagarin joked back: “The main thing is that there is sausage — to go with the moonshine.”